THANK YOU for standing up against organized misogynist hate in Canada. As you may have seen in local, national, and international media coverage of the petition and related actions, you have already made a REAL difference. Over 44,000 people have raised their voices in support, and the number continues to grow. We are holding a peaceful demonstration in protest of ‘Roosh V’s proposed lecture in Toronto this Saturday, August 15 at NOON at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Please join us. We are gathering in the public park behind the Queen’s Park legislature building near Wellesley and Queen’s Park Crescent East. More information is available in the Facebook event page linked to below. Gendered and sexual violence against women is extremely common in Canada. The Canadian Women’s Foundation notes that at least half of all Canadian women have experienced sexual or physical assault in their lifetime. The Government of Ontario recently launched a strategy to stop sexual violence and harassment because so many women feel unsafe in their daily lives. Over 1,100 indigenous women have been murdered or gone missing in Canada since 1980. We live in a society that is, in many ways, unsafe for women. It’s precisely for this reason that we must drive public discussion and call out any individual or group that publicly endorses the legalization of rape. Anyone or any ideology that sanctions violence against women and/or which minimizes or trivializes its impact on them must be challenged in EVERY instance, and resisted at every turn. I started this petition to do just that. Statements from Roosh V like “I propose that we make the violent taking of a woman not punishable by law when done off public grounds” are hateful and, in fact, physically dangerous to women. I’ve been criticized for speaking out. Some say shining a light on misogyny gives its proponents more power. To those people I say silence is not the answer. Ignoring the growing spectre of organized misogyny is not the answer. By “naming and shaming” Roosh V, we’re following in the steps of the many human rights activists around the world who speak up to expose hate and injustice and to shine light on dark activities. We have hate speech laws in this country in order to protect freedom of speech, not to destroy it. I’ve just come from a meeting with Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament Cheri DiNovo. I’m proud to say that she stands with us and will join us on Saturday, and has agreed to speak at the demonstration. She is a tremendous ally in our cause. In the Greater Toronto Area, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, City Councillor Norm Kelly, Olivia Chow and the Toronto YWCA have all said that Roosh V’s hateful misogyny is not welcome in this city. I am so proud that our political leaders are taking a strong stance in support of women’s rights. We must recognize that one of the most dangerous aspects of hate and hate speech is that it invokes very visceral, raw emotions in nearly everyone who encounters it. As we prepare to demonstrate this Saturday, let us focus on positivity and peace to help us carry our message forward. Let’s honour survivors and support their courage in speaking out. Let’s celebrate consent. I know that many of you have been attacked and threatened online and I want to personally thank you for continuing to brave and refusing to be intimidated. I look forward to seeing you at our peaceful demonstration on Saturday. MORE HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/1627142600878691/ We are also using these hashtags on social media #rooshvOUT (generously gifted to us by the illustrious Mayor Coderre) and #DenyRooshV. -Sara